Conveying apparatus



` Sept. 20, 1932. M A MESSLElN 1,878,163

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed octv 1o. 1928 4 sheets-heet 1 @LEE- EN /Wz'ckae Z H M655 62270.

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Sept. 20, 1932. M. A. MEssLElN 1,878,163

l CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. l0. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Sept. 20, 1932. M. A. MEssLElN 1,875,163

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 10, 1928 4 Sheecs-Sheel 5 Sept- 20, 1932- M. A. MEssLElN 1,878,163

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed oct. 1o. 1928 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MICHAEL A. MESSLEIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CONVEYING APPARATUS Application led October 10, 1928. Serial No. 311,525.

This invention relates to conveyingl apparatus, and particularly to apparatus useful in connection with electroplating tin mill black sheets or any other articles.

The apparatus of this invention receives in compact pack the sheets to be plated and delivers the same singly to the conveying mechanism which is arranged to au'temati cally pass said sheets successively through the several separate tanks included inthe machine for cleaning, washing, plating, oilingl and the like and then removing saidV sheets from the machine. c

An object of the invention is to provide an automatic electroplatin'g apparatus.

Another object of the invention isvtopro vide an automatic electroplating apparatus wherein a continuous row of articles, spaced at predetermined intervals, areI moved through lsuccessive tanks, wherein various operations incidental to electroplating are performed.

A further object of the invention is to provide transfer mechanism for plating machines whereby work is delivered to a tank,

moved through the tank, and then removed from said tank automatically.

A still further object of the invention to provide an electroplating machine, including 4a plurality-of tanks, with mechanism for automatically receivingwork pieces to be plated, moving said pieces through a tank, then removing' same from said tank and delivering the pieces to another tank` and so on until the work pieces have passed through the several tanks of the machine and then delivering. said work pieces out of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electroplating apparatus which is economical to manufacture and ef'ncient in operation.

According to the invention the transfer mechanism comprises an endless chain disposed over a tank, which chain carries a plurality of skeleton box-like frames for receiving single sheets, which sheets are delivered automatically tothese frame members and are moved through the tank by the frames and then delivered to the transfer mechanism of a subsequent tank where the movement of the sheet is repeated. There are as many tanks and transfer mechanisms as the particular plating requires together with such washing, rinsing and oiling tanks as may be found necessary.

The form of the machine chosen to illustrate an embodiment of the invention is arranged to plate flat sheets and the views of the accompanying drawings are as follows: Figurel is a side elevational view some,- wliat diagrammatic in forni,` and illustrated in two parts, of aplating machine consists ing of four tankstogether with the conveyor.

mechanism embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational vie-w of the receiving end of the machine showing details yof construction.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through' the machine showing certain details of construction with certain parts fragmentally dis- Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmental porv tion, partially in section, of one end of one of the sheet carriers as the same appears in the plating tank section of the machine.

Figui-e 9 is a perspective view of one of the sheet carriers of the conveyor mechanism. Figure 10 is a top plan view of a portion of the supply hopper withcertain parts in sec-` tion and with the pack of sheets omitted.

Figure 11V isan 'elevational view partially a sheet from the frame-like carrier.

Figure 12' is a view similar to- Figure 1l showing the trip finger as the same appears as a sheet .has been removed from a frame carrier withthe dislodged sheet shown in dotted lines.

Figure 13 is a fragmental side elevational view of the lower end of the supply hopper bottom.

.9o in section of the trip mechanism for removing *bar of the platin section.

Figure 14 is a section taken on line XIV-` of one Vcorner of a frame carrier showing the wheel for supporting said carrier on the bus The framewor t of the invention illustrated comprises a plurality of structural steel members including uprights 1 and horizontal connecting members 2, connected together to forma frame structure. y A plurality of tanks, A, B, C, and D, are arranged lengthwise of the machine and rest on the floor or foundation of the machine. These tanks are arranged endwise so that work pieces may be advanced successively through the several tanks for carrying out certain functions and steps in the plating operations.

The tanks in the illustrated embodiment of the invention may be termed as follows: Tank A is the cleaner tank, tank B the washing water tank, tank C the plating tank, and tank D the oil tank. Of course, as many or as few tanks as desirable may be arranged and grou ed into a plating machine as the particular (ind of plating requires both as to the actual plating of the work'pieces as well as.l the preliminary and subsequent washing,

rising, and cleaning operations are concerned. A transfer mechanlsm 1s provlded for every one of the several tanks, which mechanism is similar in all res ects except as to the length of the conve or c ains for the several tanks as some of t e tanks are longer than others. The plating tank, for instance, in the illustrated form of the invention is shown as being considerably longer than any of the other tanks. -Necessarlly the conveyor or transfer mechanism for-this tank must be `longer than the conveyor or transfer mechanism from the other tanks.

A sheet hopper 3 comprising an inclined ioor 4 is supported b the first and second vertical members 1 o the frame structure. Near each side of the floor 4 are side guides 5 and 6 which in the present instance comprise angle bars. A plurality of'slides 7 are arranged in the front or lowerend of the hopper 3 as shown in Figures 1, 2, 10,13, and 14 of the drawings. A transverse shaft 8 suported in de ending ears 9 underneath the oor 4 of the opper carries rollers 10 underneath the several slides 7. Springs 11 are interposed between the rear ends of each of l the slides 7 which springs rest against abutments 12 for normally urging the slides outwardly of the end of the floor 4. These slides 7 are provided so that when the front sheet of the pack within the hopper 3 iswithdrawn as hereinafter ex lained the slide will move backwardly Ian thus permit removal of the front sheet from the pack.

Spaced from the front or lower'end of the Hoor 4 of the hopper 3 is an upwardly extending outwardly inclined wall 13 having vertical slots 14 vformed in the same. A slide 15 which comprises a plate having ribs 16 thereon which ribs extend through the slots 14 in the plate 13 is arranged to slide verticall outside ofthe plate 13. The pusher plate or removing the front sheet of the pack'in the hopper 3 consists of a thin bent sheet or plate of metal 17 which is fastened to the ribs 16 of the plate 15 and thereby moves with said plate. The width of the pusher plate 17 is greater than the distance between the side guides 5 and 6 which are attached to the floor 4 of the hopper. It is of course understood that the side guides 5 and 6 are adjustable laterally to accommodate sheets of different sizes. I

A motor shaft 18 is arranged transversely of the machine near the hopper 3 in suitable bearings. A gear 19 thereon meshes with a larger gear 20 carried by shaft 21' in the machine frame. A small gear 20a on shaft 21` meshes with gear 24 on shaft 23. A small gear 22 on shaft 23, which is also supported in the machine frame, meshes with gear 27 on shaft 26, whichshaft 26 carries a bevel gear 25 which is in mesh with bevel gear 29 fastened to driving shaft 30, which shaft extends lengthwise of the machine and operates the conveyor 4mechanism for the several STI the arm 31 inwardly of the link 34 and at l the other end is connected at 40 with the gear 24 so as to rock said arm 31 as said gear 24 is rotated b the motor shaft 18 through the train o gears heretofore described.

The motor shaft 18 is connected to any suitable source of power such as an electric motor 41 and as said motor is operated said arm 31 oscillates about its pivoted end 32 to raise and lower the plate 15 and its attached pusher plate 17 for removing the endmost sheet in the pack of sheets in the hopper 3.

A delivery chute 42 is secured to the front end of the hopper 3 and isvcurved downwardly terminating approximately at the front end of the rst tank A, so that a sheet removed from the hopper 3-by the pusher plate 17 slides by gravity down said chute 42 t0- wards tank A.

The conveyor mechanism for the several tanks is substantially the same and hence but one conveyor mechanism will be described in detail.

The conveyor mechanism for tank A comprises a bevel gear 43 mounted on transfer shaft 44 which su ports said gear adjacent the tank. Two ot er gears 43m are. mounted on shaft 44, one on each side of the tank. The gears 43a are disposed outwardly 'of the sides of the tank as may be seen in Figures 4 and 3.

A description of the mechanism at one side of the tank will be suiicient as the mechanism on the other side is duplicated.

The bevel gear 43 is driven by a small bevel gear 45 keyed to the shaft 30. A transverse `haft 46 is carried in the`side frame members of the machine and'is disposed a slight distance above the top of the tank A. Small sprockets 47 are carried on this shaft with one near each side of the tank. Another transverse shaft 48 is mounted above the tank A and ahead of the shaft 46. This shaft.

carries sprockets 49 similarlto sprockets 47. Idler sprockets 50 are carried by shaft 51 arranged a slight distance above the sprockets 47, which idlers serve as tighteners for the conveyor chains.

Endless conveyor chains 52 pass around the sprockets 43a, 47, 48,'and are maintained in tight position by the idlers 50. The chains are special ones having attached to the links thereof angle members 53 and 54 on each side thereof 'to which angle members are attached Work piece frames such as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a workpiece frame or sheet carrier which is illus- I lower edge of said piece.

vided with rivet or bolt holes 63 whereby trated as one means of receiving a sheet for conveying the same through the plating apparatus of my invention. Said sheet carrier comprises a body 55 skeleton-like in form having a large cut-out 56. The margins of the body 55 are provided with upturned pieces 55a while a hooded portion 57 overlies the upper end of the sheet carrier engaging the upper margins of the side portions 55a thus being spaced from the body 55. The width of the hood 57 is slight compared to its length. The lower end of the sheet carrier is formed with a channel formed by bending back on itself the lower end of the sheet material of which the body 55 is made.

as at 58. Cut-outs 59 and 60 are provided in the channel at the lower end of the sheet carrier for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The sheet carrier Vhas at its upper end and at each side thereof an outwardly extending flat piece 61 welded, riveted or otherwise secured to the-body 55 which lpiece 61 has a cut-out 62 extending upwardly from the The piece 61 is prosaid pieces 61 may be riveted, bolted or otherwise fastened to the angle pieces 53 and 54 on the chain 52.

A sheet carrier is supported transversely of the tank A byhaving the pieces 61 thereof fastened tothe angle pieces 53 and 54 on the chain 52 at each side of the tank so that said sheet carriers are rigidly secured to the chain and move with the chain as the same is driven by the sprocket 43.

The driving sprocket 43 of the transfer mechanism for tank A is so associated and timed with the main driving shaft 30 that one of -the sheet carriers 55 is moved into the horizontal position E of Figure l as the sheet is delivered from the supply hopper 3 and slides down the chute 42 entering the sheet carrier 55 with the advancing edge of the sheet moving underneath the hood 57 and the rear edge being received within the channel 58 at the bottom of the sheet carr1er.

Continued operation of the main driving shaft 3() will move the next sheet carrier into the position .E for reception of the next plate delivered from the supply hopper to the chute 42 by the pusher plate 17. This continues as long as there are any plates in the supply hopper 3 and as long as it is desirous of continuing operation of the plating apparatus.

The sheets in the several sheet carriers on the lower run of the chain 52 are thereby moved through the liquid within the tank A. The chain 52 after passing the sprocket 49 moves upwardly int-o position to have the sheets removed from the sheet carrier.

Adjacent the Yarc of movement of the sheet carriers 55 in the upward direction as may be observed from Figure 1 and Figure 2 of the drawings is a transverse shaft 64 carrying a pair of spaced fingers 65 spaced so that a finger will enter each of the recesses 59 or in the bottom edge of the frame 55. The shaft 64 may be driven in any desirable manner in timed relation with the driving shaft 30. The lingers are so arranged as to turn in clockwise direction as observed in Figures 1 and 2 and as the sheet carrier 55 moves into the F position the lingers 65 will enter the slots 59 and 60 in the same as observed in Figure 11 and move the sheet backwardly within its sheet carrier. Continued rotation of the shaft 64 moves back the sheet so that the lower edge of the sheet then is freed from the inturned margin 58 of the sheet carrier whereupon said sheet falls as shown in dotted lines in Figure 12 onto an inclined platform 66 which is slotted so thatliquid may fall out of the drainboard. 67 and be returned to the tank A.

The incline 66 is arranged to then deliver the sheet to a sheet carrier 55 of the `next successive conveyor or transfer mechanism where said sheet is delivered into said sheet carrier in exactly the same manner as delivered in the first instance from the chute 42 at the receiving end of the machine.

The conveyor or transfer mechanism 'for tank B is similar to that described with respect to tank A and operates in the same timed relation so that one of the sheet carles isc'

riers of this conveyor mechanism is in a horizontal position to receive the sheetjust removed from the sheet carrier 55 of the first transfer mechanism and moves said sheet throu' h the tank B or washing vwatertank. v'

The s eet having been moved throughthe washing` water tank in the manner descr1bed -with reference to tank A is then delivered to the plating tank C for fplating.

T e plating tank C is much longer than tanks A, B, and D so that the sheets may be allowed to remain in said lating tank a suflicient length of time to e ect and secure full and complete plating of the sheets.

The sheet is then removed from the plating preer to employ are like that shownin Fi ure 6, which anodes are provided with a hoo 68 at one end and an eye 69 at the other end so that a plurality of these may be arranged in series electrically as shown in Figure 5. A plurality of the anodes are arranged flatwise on the bottom of the tank Cas shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings and another series are suspended along the inside walls of the tank for increasing the amount of flew of electrical current while any of the sheets are in the plating tank.

The anodes are electrically connected by means not shown with a suitable source of electrical energy not shown which source is of course dependent on the kind of plating being done and also the amount of current being supplied to the plating tank. A plating solutionof proper kinda andmixture is placed in the plating tank C so as to form the electrolyte for making proper deposits on the sheets being plated.

A bus bar 70 1s arranged alon the top edge of each side of the platingtan C being suitably insulated at 71 from its attaching member 7 2. The bus bar is electrically connected with the source of electrical current to which is also connected the anodes.

The recesses 62 in the pieces 61 of all of the sheet carriers 55 receive rollers 73 carried by brackets 7 4 suitably attached tothe end pieces 61. The rollers 73 make electrical circuit connections between the bus bars 71, the end pieces 61, the sheet carriers 55 and the supported sheets in said carriers, the elements just recited'constitu'ting the cathode of the electricaLcircuit through the plating tank.

Electric circuit is established through the sheets supported by the'sheet carriers 55 as soon as any art of the sheet carriers enters the platin ath in the tank C. Arrange- 05 ment of t e conveyor and transfer mechatank C and delivered to the oil tank D wheref within the wall of the tank C and near the upper edge thereof from which conductor han the several anodes arranged/against said wal Furthermore, said conductor is electrlcally connected with the anodes on the bottom of the tank.

r It will be observedthat the sequence of delivering, receiving and moving sheets to the Amachlne is .donel automatically once .the m'achine` has been put in `operationand there is a sclpplytof sheets in thel`iopp`an.A v

e invention is illustrated and; v,described in connection' with an .electroplatingmachine v jor lating ilat sheets. v",lt1is, -of course, with# .,o in t e scope ofthis invention to rearrangel the machine for plating articlesA other than fiat sheets.- In such event necessarily the supv ply hopper would'be dierent or omitted and the de ivery chute 42 of such shape and arrangement as to deliver ,the other articles to the carriers on the conveyor and transfer mechanism for the several tanks. The frame 55 might easily be removed and suitable carriers for other articles shaped otherwise than flat applied tothe chain 52. v

The sprocket wheel 43a lis large so that proper arrangement may be made between the several conveyors and also that proper speed of the conveyor chains may be obtained.

'Ihe machine is of course properly insulated so as to prevent short circuits and so as to assure proper ilowof current through the platin bath. p

Whl e I have described more or less4 precisely the details of construction of my invention, yet I do not wish to be limited thereto as I am aware that changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts and that equivalents may be substituted, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. Transfer mechanism for conducting ilat sheets through a treating tank comprising a pair of chains adjacent the sides of said tank, s rockets for driving and su porting said cliains a plurality of sheet carriers connected to said chains so as to lie transversely of the tank, said sheet carriers arranged to each re- 125 ceive a single sheet, a receptacle for said sheets, means for withdrawing said sheets singly from said receptacle and delivering the same successively to said sheet carriers, means for drlvxng sald chains 1n t1med relation with 130 every sheet carrier said shtet withdrawing means, and automatic means including a rotating finger for dislodging a sheet'from aj carrier after the carrier has been moved by said chains out of said 5 treating tank. i Y v 2. A conveyor and transferinechanism for a treating tank comprising a pair of endless chains arranged adjacent the sides of'said tank, sheet carriers secured to said chains, l having a recess in the lower side thereof to receive the lower margin of a sheet and maintain the same in the carrier, trip means including a rotating member engageable j with a sheet adjacent the discharge end of said tank for dislodging a sheet from said recess to thus cause the sheet to gravitate from said carrier, and means for receiving said sheet as the same falls from said carrier.

3. An automatic sheet conveying apparatus for a treating tank comprising means for delivering sheets to said tank, a conveyor for receiving said sheets and moving the same to and through said tank, said conveyor including a pair of endlesschains on each side of the tank, 'a plurality of sheet carriers supported by said chains transversely of the tank, the bottom of every sheet carrier having a channel for receiving a sheet and a hood cooperating with the channel for retaining a sheet in a carrier, tracks along said tank, means carried by said sheet carriers for engaging said'tracks, means for driving said chains continuously, and means including a rotating finger adjacent the delivery end of said tank for dislodging sheets from successive sheet carriers.

4. An automatic conveying apparatus for a treating tank comprising two endless chains arranged one on each side of the tank, a plurality of sheet receiving members rigidly secured to said chain, each. of said members being constructed to receive a single sheet and support the same in position as said sheet is moved through and from the tank, means for driving said chains and means including a rotating finger adjacent the delivery end of said tank and operating lin timed relation with the chain driving means for dislodging said members are moved from the tank by said chain.

5. An apparatus for treating flat sheets comprising a tank, a conveyor and transfer mechanism for said tank comprising a air of endless chains arranged adjacent the sides of said tank, sheet carriers secured to said chains, every sheet carrier having a recess in the lower side thereof to receive the lower margin of a sheet, a rotating trip adj acentthe discharge end of said tank for dislodging a sheet from said recess to thus cause the same to gravitate from said carrier, means for receiving said sheet asthe same falls from said 05 sheet carrier, tracks along said tank; means sheets from the sheet carrying members as` carried by said sheet carriers for engagin said tracks as said carriers are moved throug the tank and means for operating said chains and said trip means automatically and in timed relation.

6. A treating apparatus for rigid sheets comprising a plurality of tanks arranged in end-to-end relation, conveyor and transfer mechanisms for every tank, means for delivering single sheets to the conveyor mechanism in the first tank, said means including a sheet supply hopper, means for supporting a pack of sheets in edgewise position in said hopper, a chute leading from the lower end of said hopper toward the receiving end of the first tank, means including a pusher plate engageable against the top edge of a sheet for removing a single sheet from said hopper onto said chute, said conveyor mechanism comprising a pair of chains arranged one on each side of the tank, sheet carrying members supported by said chains and extending transversely of the tank and movable with the chains, the

sheet removing mechanism being effective tp remove a sheet from said hopper onto the chute for delivery to one of the sheet receiving members on the chain as one of said members is moved intoposition at the end of said chute, means for driving said chains, and

Imeans for actuating said sheet remover, said chain driving means and said sheet withdrawing means being operated automatically and in timed relation, and a rotating finger engageable with a sheet in its receiving means for dislodging said sheet therefrom to discharge the same from said conveyor.

7 An apparatus for treating rigid sheets including a tank, a conveyor mechanism associated with said tank, said mechanism comprising two endless chains arranged one ad-v jacent eacli side of said tank, sheet receiving members attached to said chains and extending transversely of the tank, means on said members for supporting a sheet along its margin, means for driving said chains continuously and at a constant speed, means for delivering la sheet to a sheet receiving member as said chains are moved, means for removing sheets from said members as said chains lift the sheet receiving members from the treating tank comprising a rotating finger driven in timed relation with the chain driving means for engaging an edge of the sheet in its carrying member and displacing said sheet from said member, and means for receiving a sheet so dislodged from its carrying member for delivering said sheet elsewhere.

8, A conveyor mechanism for rigid sheets,

comprising an endless chain, hanger frames secured at intervals on said chain, each of said frames having inturned edges for maintaining a rigid sheet in a frame, means for feeding sheets to said frame, and means including ra rotating linger for ejecting the sheets from the frames, all of said means op- 6 ynemica eratin automatically and in timed relation. 9. Eparatus for transporting rigid sheets throng a treating tank comprisin a pair of endless chains, hanger frames ri y secured at intervals to said c ains, ever an er frame having inturned edges on one ace o the same to provide recesses for receiving the margins of a rigid sheet, the lower edge of every frame having notches therein, means for movin 10 said chains, means for supplying sheets to sai han er frames, and means rotating into the notc es of successive frames for engaging the margin of a sheet therein in order to eject the same therefrom, all o said means operat- 15 ing in timed relation.

` n testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed by name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

- MICHAEL MESSLEIN. 

